§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cumulative cost is of this Department's support for the civil power in Northern Ireland since 1969. [8133]
§ Dr. ReidThe information is not available in the precise form requested because the necessary departmental records are no longer extant and the adoption in 1991–92 of the New Management Strategy (NMS) means that comparable costs across the period cannot he calculated.
Estimates prepared in response to previous parliamentary questions are available for the additional costs of conducting military operations in Northern Ireland between 1969–70 and 1987–88. Insofar as can 233W now be determined, these contrasted the estimated cost at contemporary prices of maintaining a garrison of the size established in 1969 with the actual cost of the garrison and all its associated expenditure in the year in question. The figures are:
Financial year Additional cost of military operations £ million 1969–70 1.5 1970–71 6.5 1971–72 14 1972–73 29 1973–74 33 1974–75 45 1975–76 60 1976–77 65 1977–78 69 1978–79 81 1979–80 96 1980–81 100 1981–82 149 1982–83 143 1983–84 141 1984–85 121 1985–86 135 1986–87 144 1987–88 168 Sources:
House of Commons Official Report for: 16 May 1977, Column 77; 26 March 1980, Column 593; and 16 June 1988, Columns 225–26.
I regret that I have been unable to trace any equivalent estimates for financial years 1989–90 to 1990–91.
The overall budgets held by the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) for 1991–92 and subsequent financial years, for personnel, stores, services, lands and, except for 1991–92, works costs, are as follows:
Financial year1 General officer commanding (Northern Ireland's) budget (final outturn) 1991–92 £355 million 1992–93 £436 million 1993–94 £489 million 1994–95 £510 million 1995–96 £475 million 1996–97 2£514 million 1997–98 3£508 million Notes:
1 The General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) was vested as a Top Level Budget Holder on 1 April 1994., The figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are estimates of outturn prepared as comparators for the Class 1 Supply Estimates for 1994–95 (HC276— I) and 1995–96 (C271 -I).
2 This figure represents the estimated outturn given in Vote 1, section B of the 1997–98 Class I Supply Estimates (HC 335).
3 This figure represents the provision made in Vote 1, section B of the 1997–98 Class I Supply Estimates (HC 335).
A more detailed explanation of these figures can be found in my predecessor's letter of 11 November 1996 to my right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.